Magothy Bay State Natural Area Preserve - Cape Charles, VA
Magothy Bay State Natural Area Preserve offers a unique outdoor experience for dog owners in Cape Charles, Virginia. Located just south of the town, this scenic preserve is known for its natural beauty, wildlife habitats, and pet-friendly trails. If you and your pup love exploring the great outdoors, the park is a wonderful spot for dog-friendly hiking and enjoying nature together.
While not a traditional fenced dog park, Magothy Bay provides a variety of open spaces and miles of natural trails. This is the perfect place for leashed adventures among salt marshes and maritime forests, blending the beauty of Virginia’s Eastern Shore with opportunities to observe birds and other wildlife. Bring your dog and discover why this is a local favorite for outdoor pet activities in Cape Charles.
FAQ
- Are dogs allowed off-leash at this park? Dogs must remain on leash at all times while visiting Magothy Bay State Natural Area Preserve.
- Are there walking or hiking trails connected to the park? Yes, the preserve features natural and pet-friendly trails for you and your dog to enjoy together.
- Is there a fee or membership required to enter? There is no fee to enter Magothy Bay State Natural Area Preserve.
Reviews
I loved it but beware of ticks they are bad!
The trail would be just as good if not better to bike. Hidden gem of a trail. Quiet and there was no one else on the trail while I was there. My dog loved it, you are supposed to keep dogs leashed fyi. When you start the loop on the right starting at the long straight part be advised there is a left where you may question if you should take it or keep going straight go to the left to stay on loop.
I loved it but beware of ticks they are bad!
The trail would be just as good if not better to bike. Hidden gem of a trail. Quiet and there was no one else on the trail while I was there. My dog loved it, you are supposed to keep dogs leashed fyi. When you start the loop on the right starting at the long straight part be advised there is a left where you may question if you should take it or keep going straight go to the left to stay on loop.
Nice little hidden gem. The 2.2 mille roundtrip goes through meadows, woods and wetlands with nice views of the Atlantic side and the actual cape. We saw a flock of Ibises.
However the bugs are definitely something to be aware of. Mosquitoes, horse flies, bees, and DEFINITELY LOTS OF TICKS!! Careful checking afterwards is highly recommended. Better yet avoid bug season
Nice little hidden gem. The 2.2 mille roundtrip goes through meadows, woods and wetlands with nice views of the Atlantic side and the actual cape. We saw a flock of Ibises.
However the bugs are definitely something to be aware of. Mosquitoes, horse flies, bees, and DEFINITELY LOTS OF TICKS!! Careful checking afterwards is highly recommended. Better yet avoid bug season
In late August trail was mowed and the views were great. We saw a deer twice and it even stopped in the trail. 3 Stars for the bugs. I know there’s nothing they can do but I don’t even think industrial spray would help. We ended up running the last part of the trail because the bugs were so intense. No ticks just mosquitos and lots of horseflies.
In late August trail was mowed and the views were great. We saw a deer twice and it even stopped in the trail. 3 Stars for the bugs. I know there’s nothing they can do but I don’t even think industrial spray would help. We ended up running the last part of the trail because the bugs were so intense. No ticks just mosquitos and lots of horseflies.
We tried to go here today. 11:00 am 77 degrees sunny day. We read the reviews so we lathered up big time with bug sprays but we got maybe fifty feet in and we were completely covered in mosquitos, big biting painful mosquitos. The grass was super nicely mowed but it just was too much for us. We will come back in the winter and give it another try, hopefully after most of the bugs have died for the year. PS if you use WAZE to get here beware it tries to take you straight onto a farmer’s home/property. Turn left before the road turns to more of a grassy driveway. There’s a big brown state parks sign down the road on the left that should have told us WAZE was wrong but we were following it blindly.
We tried to go here today. 11:00 am 77 degrees sunny day. We read the reviews so we lathered up big time with bug sprays but we got maybe fifty feet in and we were completely covered in mosquitos, big biting painful mosquitos. The grass was super nicely mowed but it just was too much for us. We will come back in the winter and give it another try, hopefully after most of the bugs have died for the year. PS if you use WAZE to get here beware it tries to take you straight onto a farmer’s home/property. Turn left before the road turns to more of a grassy driveway. There’s a big brown state parks sign down the road on the left that should have told us WAZE was wrong but we were following it blindly.
If a allergic to bees beware!! Bug spray is a huge must. It is beautiful, but the amount of the bees and mosquitoes definitely made the experience less enjoyable. Worth a visit, but be prepared.
If a allergic to bees beware!! Bug spray is a huge must. It is beautiful, but the amount of the bees and mosquitoes definitely made the experience less enjoyable. Worth a visit, but be prepared.